Peninsula Daily News Sept. 3, 2001

My dog was barking.

I looked out the window to see a person in my cow pasture, which is posted, “No Trespassing.”

I grabbed the shotgun to confront this trespasser.

By the time I get outside he had disappeared, but my renter lady said, “Some guy walked down into the creek.”

So I walked toward the creek and yelled through the brush. “This is private property, get the h--- out of here.”

A voice came back through the brush, “Don’t point that thing at me.” Then I see him running up the creek.

Four hours later the sheriff and this trespasser show up and give me a $500. ticket for “unlawful display of a weapon.”

The sheriff said the guy was with Fisheries and can be wherever he wants anytime.

I said that there was no vehicle in sight and did the guy identify himself. The sheriff said that does not matter. I learned that the use of gun on your property, but not outside of the house, for defense purposes is illegal.

When one witnesses a trespasser, they are to notify the authorities and not confront the trespasser.

So, we are now incapable of defending ourselves and our families on our own property if we are not inside of a house?

I thought our Constitution granted us the right to defend ourselves.

By the way, I went before a judge and beat the charges, bit it cost me $850.